Chapter 20 Foreign and Military Policy The

The Shape of the Twentieth Century The history of the twentieth century can be summarized--excessively briefly--in five propositions: First, that the history of the twentieth century was overwhelmingly economic history. Second, that the twentieth century saw the material wealth of humankind explode beyond all previous imagining.

Third, that because of advances in technology, productivity, and organization-and the feelings of social dislocation and disquiet that these advances generated--the twentieth century’s tyrannies were the most brutal and barbaric in history. Fourth, that the twentieth century saw the relative economic gulf between different economies grow at a rapid pace. .

Fifth and last, that economic policy-the management of their economies by governments--in the twentieth century was at best inept. Little was known or learned about how to manage a market or a mixed economy.

Globalization n Write a short paragraph about what the term means to you? Listen to Definition Given By Tom Friedman, New York Times http: //www. lexusandtheolivetree. com/a udiolist. htm

Effects of the September 11 attacks n n Public consciousness about international terrorism Outbursts of patriotism Confidence in government Emergence of important fundamental questions n n n How to wage a "war" against terrorism? How to hold other nations accountable? How to act when other nations fight terrorism? Does such a war require military to be redesigned? Reemergence of classic questions n n Do we only support nations that are reasonably free and democratic? Are we the world's policemen?

Foreign Policy

THEME A Foreign Policy As Majoritarian Politics To many outside observers, democracies can not apply the firmness of purpose, efficiency of execution, secrecy, and patience that effective foreign policy requires.

Majoritarian politics concerns itself with the issues of war, peace, and global diplomacy.

Entrepreneurial politics: n n Congress the central political arena When a multinational corporation is caught in a scandal Free Trade Negotiations Removal of Tariffs/Domestic Subsidies

Who has power? n n n Majoritarian politics: president dominates; public opinion supports but does not guide Interest group or client politics: larger congressional role Entrepreneurial politics: Congress the central political arena

The Supreme Court has fairly consistently held that the conduct of foreign policy is a political question to be decided between the president and congress.

The president is commander in chief of the armed forces, appoints ambassadors, and negotiates treaties. The Senate approves treaties and ambassadorial appointments. Congress must appropriate money to fund military ventures and it alone can declare war.

Congressional limitations on the president: 1. Limits economic aid to other countries. 2. War Powers Act - which requires congressional approval of any commitment of troops over 60 days. Chadha case - the Supreme Court struck down a portion of the act that authorized legislative vetoes to control arms sales abroad. 3. Congressional intelligence oversight committees to control CIA activities, including covert operations

In times of crisis the public supports the president. Mass opinion supports war policies as long as they appear successful.

THEME B The Foreign Policy Elite Public opinion provides support for presidential initiatives in foreign policy but no specific direction. In foreign policy, more than in other policy areas elite worldviews.

THEME B The Foreign Policy Elite A world view is a more or less comprehensive picture of critical problems facing the United States in the world and the appropriate ways of responding

Human rights Paradigm n n Clinton had a disinterest in foreign policy and his advisors believed in disengagement. Clinton's strongest congressional supporters argued against the Gulf War but advocated military intervention in Kosovo. Change in view explained by concern for human rights and belief that situation in Kosovo amounted to genocide Conservatives who supported containment in Gulf War urged disengagement in Kosovo

New Paradigm – Disarmament n The politics of coalition building n Should the United States act "alone? " n If so, in what circumstances? n See National Security Policy of the United States at: http: //www. whitehouse. gov/nsc/nss. html

THEME C Radical Revisionism and American Imperialism In general, revisionists tend to place most of the blame for the cold war and subsequent international tensions upon the United States. According to them it was America's inordinate (and unrealistic) fears of Soviet communism.

THEME C Radical Revisionism and American Imperialism They claim American military strength and diplomacy are oriented toward protecting those markets at any costs. This view is contradicted by examples from Vietman, Korea and Israel.

Military Policy

From the beginning of U. S. history the basic principle has been to ensure civilian control of the military.

Military power more important after collapse of Soviet Union and end of Cold War n n Military force used to attack Iraq, defend Kosovo, maintain order in Bosnia, and occupy Haiti and Somalia Several nations have long-range rockets and weapons of destruction Many nations feel threatened by neighbors Russia still has nuclear weapons

THEME A - How Are Military Decisions Made The conventional view of national defense policy making is that it is an example of majoritarian politics, with cost and benefits widely distributed. The rival theory of the military industrial complex holds that spending for national defense is the result of client politics.

Majoritarian or Client n Majoritarian view of military n n Almost all Americans benefit, almost all pay President is the commander-in-chief Congress plays largely a supportive role Client view of military n n Real beneficiaries of military spending--general, admirals, big corporations, members of Congress whose districts get fat defense contracts--but everyone pays Military-industrial complex shapes what is spent

National Security Act of 1947 n Department of Defense n n n Secretary of Defense (civilian, as are secretaries of the army, navy, and air force) Joint Chiefs of Staff (military) Reasons for separate uniformed services n n n Fear that unified military will become too powerful Desire of services to preserve their autonomy Interservice rivalries intended by Congress to receive maximum information

1986 defense reorganization plan n Joint Chiefs of Staff n n n Joint Staff n n n Officers from each service assisting JCS Since 1986 serves chair; promoted at same rate The services n n n Composed of uniformed head of each service with a chair and vice chair appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate Chair since 1986 principal military adviser to president Each service headed by a civilian secretary responsible for purchasing and public affairs Senior military officer oversees discipline and training The chain of command n n Chair of JCS does not have combat command Uncertainty whether 1986 changes will work

What do we get for our money? 1. Personnel including pensions Pensions hardest to control 2. Big Ticket Items - Cost overruns "Fly before you Buy" 3. Small ticket items - $435 hammer 4. Readiness - first to get cut 5. Bases

Personnel n n From draft to all-volunteer force in 1973 Volunteer force improved as result of: n n n Increases in military pay Rising civilian unemployment Changes in military n n n More women in military Ban of women on combat ships lifted in 1993 but Congress to be consulted if ground combat involved "Don't ask, don't tell" compromise adopted by Clinton on homosexuals in military

Big-ticket hardware n Main reasons for cost overruns n n n Unpredictability of cost of new items Contractor incentives to underestimate at first Military chiefs want best weapons money can buy "Sole sourcing" of weapons without competitive bids Holding down budget by "stretching out" production Latter four factors can be controlled; first cannot

Small-ticket items n n Seemingly outrageous prices come from allocation of overhead, ($435 hammer) small run of items produced Others result from "gold-plating" phenomenon

Readiness, favorite area for short-term budget cutting n n Other cuts would hurt constituents Cuts here show up quickly in money saved

Bases – Client Politics n n At one time, a lot of bases opened and few closed Commission on Base Realignment and Closure created to take client politics out of base closings

THEME B - Politics and the Future of Military Spending See next several charts.

American slowdowns in productivity, chronic budget deficits, and increasing foreign debt have militated against the continuing rates of military expansion. The collapse of the Soviet Union increased the decline.

Public Sentiment on Defense Spending, 1960 -1998 Updated from The Public Perspective (August/September 1997), 19.

Public Sentiment on Defense Spending, 1960 - 2002

Trends in Military Spending (in constant dollars) to 2000 Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), “National Defense Budget Estimates for FY 2000. ”

Trends in Military Spending (in constant dollars) to 2002

Welcome to the Department of Defense

We are America’s. . . n n Oldest company Largest company Busiest company Most successful company

How we evolved 1775 1798 War Department (1789) 1947 Dept. of the Army Department of the Navy (1798) Dept. of the AF Sec. Def position created Nat’l Mil Estab Do. D created (1949) Dept. of Defense America’s oldest company

Office of the Secretary of Defense Military Departments Chairman of the JCS Unified Commands Guard & Reserve n n Wartime military support Humanitarian Peacekeeping Homeland Security All military departments

David Gergen UNO ABC Breakfast October 2003 n Today, the United States represents 5% of the world’s population. It produces 25% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). We are probably the greatest world power since Rome. We that power goes the responsibility of stewardship. Part of stewardship is listening to the rest of the world.

For more information about this topic, link to the Metropolitan Community College Political Science Web Site http: //socsci. mccneb. edu/pos/polsc main. htm http: //www. state. gov http: //www. dod. gov/